Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Voting Rights for Malaysians Overseas Welcome, but MyOverseasVote Will Scrutinise Details
- More Flip-Flops
- Strengthening English By Improving The Teaching Of English
- BN pushing the panic button
- MACC, police are a disgrace
- Do you love Malaysia?
| Voting Rights for Malaysians Overseas Welcome, but MyOverseasVote Will Scrutinise Details Posted: 24 Aug 2011 08:47 PM PDT
MyOverseasVote warmly welcomes today's announcement by the Chairman of the Election Commission (EC), Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof, that all Malaysian citizens living overseas will have the right to vote by post, hopefully by the time of the next general election. For the past year, MyOverseasVote have been lobbying the EC to extend the right to vote by post to all citizens residing overseas, and not just civil servants, servicemen and students. While we are gratified that our position has, with the help of public pressure and the influence of the global Bersih 2.0 campaign, now been accepted in principle, MyOverseasVote will continue to monitor the details put forward and seek to work with the EC to ensure that the right to vote for Malaysian citizens overseas is realised expeditiously and in good time for the next general election, while also ensuring that the electoral system is not thereby opened up to any potential abuse. (For more information on MyOverseasVote, contact MyOverseasVote@gmail.com or visit www.MyOverseasVote.org, or follow www.facebook.com/MyOverseasVote or Twitter @MyOverseasVote)
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| Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:20 PM PDT
By Tony Pua Yesterday, Dr Chua Soi Lek proudly told all affected property owners in Chinatown as well as reporters after his meeting with Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) Chairman, Syed Hamid Albar that the land acquisition controversy has been resolved. Chua told the reporters that "an agreement in principle had been reached" after a one-hour meeting this afternoon with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). According to Chua, the compromise will see the government acquiring only the strata title for the property 100 feet below ground required for the MRT tunnel, while the buildings, many of which are nearly a hundred years old, and land above ground will remain in the current owners' hands. His role as a hero was unfortunately a most short-lived one, for Syed Hamid has given the MCA President a figurative "tight slap in the face" by insisting that Chinatown would be acquired to make way for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) and there was no guarantee at all that it would be returned to the owners. Chua has turned from hero to zero within 24 hours but what is perhaps most telling is how shocking flip-flop and ad-hoc decisions are being made by this administration on a daily basis which affects the lives and livelihood of the man-on-the-street. Syed Hamid has reverted back to the "original" argument that compulsory acquisition of the Jalan Sultan lots - where the KVMRT would run underground - was necessary because under land law, landowners also owned the land that lies below ground. Once again, this is complete and utter nonsense. The National Land Code 1965 had been specifically amended in 1990 to allow for the acquisition of underground land without affecting surface property by inserting Part Five (A) (section 92A to 92G) under Clause 3. The amendment enables the disposal of "underground land", which can then either be alienated or leased for the use to construct tunnels, car parks and to lay pipes. Even Dr Chua agreed with the above after I raised it earlier in the media. Clearly Prasarana is attempting to hijack the land affecting the heritage shop lots in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown for the purposes of profit and not for the purposes of MRT construction works 100 feet underground. Such action for profit is clearly bad faith on the part of the Government. The Government must not abuse the powers in its hands to profiteer at the expense of the existing property owners and is against the spirit of the law. Given that it is possible for Prasarana to acquire the use of land underground without having to acquire property on the surface, it must immediately withdraw its order to the affected landowners without causing any further inconvenience to them.
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| Strengthening English By Improving The Teaching Of English Posted: 23 Aug 2011 12:56 PM PDT By Dato' Dr. Toh Kin Woon (via Malaysian Mirror) LLG Cultural Development Centre views with grave concern the recent statement made by Deputy Prime Minister, who concurrently is also the Minister of Education that the government is mulling the possibility of allowing schools to decide on their own whether to continue using English as the medium of instruction for the teaching of science and mathematics. The aim of this move, if adopted widely, is possibly to raise the standard of English in primary schools. We are, however, of the view that such a move, besides representing yet another flip-flop in the government's education policy, is also unprofessional in its approach towards strengthening the level of English. This will in turn lead to erosion in the effectiveness of the teaching and learning of the English language, thereby bringing immense difficulties to both teachers and students alike. Once again, our children's future will be sacrificed. To us, the proper approach towards improving the standard of any language should be through improving its teaching, rather than using it as a medium of instruction for other academic subjects. This is a simple and straight forward fundamental principle of education. Hence to strengthen the level of English, the government should focus on improving the teaching of English in Malaysian schools. This encompasses reforming its syllabus and methodology of teaching English as a second language, as well as recruiting more professionally qualified teachers. From the perspective of the Minister of Education, using English to teach science and mathematics may ostensibly improve a student's grasp of English through greater exposure to, and more contact with, the use of the language. This implies that teaching science and mathematics in English brings dual benefits to students, that is learning science and mathematics, while at the same time raising the standard of English. Except for the academically competent, this may be difficult to realize in practice, however. This is because for a great majority, whose first language is not English, they will first have to attain a certain level of competence in the English language, and this in a very short while, before they can even follow, let alone be able to comprehend and absorb the concepts in science and mathematics. LLG Cultural Development Centre is thus of the view that allowing schools to choose English as a medium of instruction to teach science and mathematics will ultimately benefit only the urban, largely English-educated elites. On the other hand, those who grow up in a non-English speaking and poor socio-economic environment will be greatly disadvantaged, learning neither science and mathematics nor English. The use of English as a medium of instruction in science and mathematics is, in our view, an elitist approach that benefits the elites, while sacrificing the poor. In such a context, education will become a tool for the inter-generational transfer of elite status, rather than as a democratic tool for effecting upward social mobility for the bottom strata of society. The already grave and yawning social disparity between the rich and poor in Malaysian society will be further widened. Given these likely developments, we are strongly opposed to the proposal by the Minister of Education to allow schools a choice in the use of English to teach science and mathematics. Our opposition is premised on the belief that such an approach fails to address the root causes in the decline of both the standard of English and education in our country. We thus urge the government to re-think this proposal, look thoroughly and professionally into the factors that have caused a decline the standard of both English and education and to come forth with proposals to address these causes. We regard these as imperative steps in order to develop the necessary human capital that is proficient in several languages deemed so important for the socio-economic advancement of our country. TOH KIN WOON is President of LLG Cultural Development Centre
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| Posted: 23 Aug 2011 12:46 PM PDT
When austerity is the name of the game, it does not look particularly good when billions are handed out at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, the announcement that the first Volkswagen cars to be produced in Malaysia would be out of Pekan, the Prime Minister's constituency, it certainly looks like an attempt to protect his interests. By Douglas Tan
What a flurry in government giving we are seeing these days! Bonuses, dividends, loans, grants and scholarships are now doled out like candy by UMNO, MCA and the like to the masses and their constituents. Acting more like NGOs or charities, the Barisan Nasional component parties have engaged on a charm offensive by handing out our money back to us, and trying to discredit the Opposition. It really got going when our Prime Minister announced that the government half month Hari Raya bonuses for all civil servants, which would cost in excess of RM1 billion to taxpayers, despite reduced subsidies and mounting budget deficits. When austerity is the name of the game, it does not look particularly good when billions are handed out at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, the announcement that the first Volkswagen cars to be produced in Malaysia would be out of Pekan, the Prime Minister's constituency, it certainly looks like an attempt to protect his interests. The second big announcement was from the Finance Ministry, with their intention to provide assistance to urban poor earning below RM3,000 a month while keeping mum on how exactly this fund is going to be distributed and how they are going to afford the assistance, when subsidies are going to be reduced left, right and centre for the fact that they say they cannot afford it! Is this rational or is it just to pander to a certain section of society to buy them over? On the political scene, Barisan Nasional is pulling out the stops through the Main Stream Media to give the impression that they are making substantive gains throughout the country. A report appearing on The Malaysian Insider mentioned that BN is confident of taking back Penang; a Malaysiakini report had UMNO Kedah saying that the people were tired of the PAS government, and an independent report from The Mederka Centre saying that rural folk would be more likely to vote for BN than otherwise. The issues do not stop there. The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to review Electoral law is now seen as mere lip service to the Rakyat as our Prime Minister saw it fit to declare that the timing of Elections was the UMNO/BN government's prerogative. This is irrespective of whether reforms can be made on time. Obviously, when Najib Razak tells us not to question his sincerity to pursue, we can do nothing but. Nazri is probably the best known Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in the history of the office, who is not helping his own public perception by completely dismissing the views of Opposition parties in the PSC as only the minority view, which therefore means that they are in the wrong. Hardly a fair and equitable statement from the de facto Law Minister. The continuing trial on Anwar Ibrahim once again places the opposition leader in the spotlight, and obviously BN is taking every opportunity to discredit him as a potential future Prime Minister. However, by now they should realise that the further they try to prolong this charade and mockery of both the justice system as well as intelligence, Anwar's popularity is now on the rise as once again he has become the victim of the system, rather than his own merits. With BN machinery in overdrive across the country, the signs are actually ominous for UMNO/BN. They know that they are likely going to lose Terengganu, Perak and Negri Sembilan to Pakatan Raykat. They know that their chances of winning back Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Kelatan are slim to impossible. They know that there is now a considerable body of opinion which would swing several seats in Sabah and Sarawak. There has also been no let up in the grassroots work from Pakatan Rakyat component parties. This is no reason at all for Pakatan Rakyat to celebrate though. In fact, PR component parties must work harder for the greater good of the Rakyat, so that they are able to genuinely earn their votes, rather than throw goodies at them. The "Lu Tolong Gua, Gua Tolong Lu" campaigns no longer works as proven in Sibu. 308 was a significant milestone in the history of our nation. The major difference going into GE-13 is that the youth have woken up, we have the highest number of registered voters in history, there is more information available than ever, and our daily conversations are awash with politics. The fact that people are now actually being outspoken about political issues is a big step forward from the days when we just kept quiet. Despite fears of foreigners allegedly being given citizenships and swearing to vote for BN, gerrymandering, phantom voters, if the Rakyat indeed rises up in the polls to oust UMNO/BN from office, this would herald a time of change and healing when our nation finally throws off the shackles, and the power to decide our own fate is indeed returned to the people. |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2011 04:50 PM PDT "Have you not noticed how deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and youth chief Wee Ka Siong are scrambling to be seen in the company of Muhyiddin as frequently as possible? By Lee KeeTHE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police are most certainly a national and international disgrace. The MACC's sole agenda is to serve the powers that be and sing to their tune. If this is not so, why is it not taking action against the immoral MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek with regards to the RM29 million Klinik Kesihatan Taman Ungku Aminah scandal? The scandal is not only about corruption but also about gross abuse of power. And why are the police not taking any action against the adulterer Chua for committing unnatural sex. Chua is just the MCA president and does not hold any Cabinet post. What's so special about Chua? Is the MCA president above the law? According to MCA little birds, the party warlords see the "no action against Chua" as an endorsement that he is still politically relevant to certain rising Umno warlords. They say it is clear the MACC and police are singing to the tune of Johor Umno politics. The political base of Chua, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is Johor. Many in MCA now believe in the rise of the Johoreans who are believed to be conspiring to force the multi-scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak out of office. Hishammuddin, as Home Minister, controls the police. No action will be taken against anyone unless the green light is given by the minister. Likewise, the MACC is also too weak to act because of the corridors of power in Johor. The MCA insiders say coalition party leaders, especially those from the MCA, had from July started aligning themselves with the deputy BN chairman in anticipation of Muhyiddin's expected rise. "This buying of 'political insurance' is necessary following growing scandals and bumbling handling of issues by the administration ," said a MCA little bird. "Have you not noticed how deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and youth chief Wee Ka Siong are scrambling to be seen in the company of Muhyiddin as frequently as possible? "Both of them actually have their own agenda but the pressing need is to prepare for Najib's possible exit. "As for president Dr Chua Soi Lek, it is a shoo-in. Chua's long-standing political base in Johor has given him the edge in relations with Muhyiddin. "Much speculation has been posted in blogs regarding Chua-Hishammuddin's ties linked to Ecovest top brass. Ecovest is diversified company with much business interest in Johor, especially in Iskandar," said the MCA insider. The party insider said the political development and efforts to be seen in the good books of Muhyiddin showed the trio were prepared dump Najib and declare their support for the rise of the deputy premier. At the moment, the little birds say MCA is politically committed to Johor Umno because Chua and Wee are also from Johor. |
| Posted: 22 Aug 2011 04:45 PM PDT What does one accomplish by fighting one's own brethren forever? By May Chee Chook Ying For someone who has been incarcerated for so long, the olive branch and recent overtures towards Aung San Suu Kyi must have surprised her pleasantly. More than that, she must be starting to feel hopeful. Whatever their underlying motives, these new rulers are smart. Why? What choice do they have? Are they to remain divided forever? Are they to be considered pariahs by the international community forever? Both sides of the divide, aren't they both true, blue-blooded Myanmarees? What does one accomplish by fighting one's own brethren forever? Reconciliation is the smart way to go. It I am Malaysian and my heart bleeds for my country. What the hell is going on? I maybe Chinese but I'm true, blue-blooded Malaysian. Wanting the best for my country, in my opinion, makes me more patriotic than those out there tearing our beloved nation apart! I am a Christian; I help people without scrutinizing if they have done an eye or nose job before, without checking to see if they use whitening cream or not, and most of all without the slightest intention of converting them! Really, what is going on? Is it a crime now to help? Believe me, I've spent more hours debating with strangers who ask to come into my humble abode and argue with me when God should rest than trying to convert others if they receive my help. Not once have I done that because I believe I worship a God of all humanity and He cares for all and not necessarily through me. I, too, have been at the receiving end of other people's This latest attempt at divide and rule really takes the cake! How low can one go? For that matter how stupid can one get? To treat God as a fool? Please, stop! Malaysia is my homeland. It's beautiful beyond description. When I go for holidays abroad, I can't wait to come home. I don't want to run away from home, please don't make me. This really is my home, I've nowhere else to go. Is that why some of you out there are giving me an ultimatum, now and then, because I love my country, Malaysia? Do you, those responsible for all these ugly episodes lately, love Malaysia? Do you, do you, do you? I wonder. I once saw the news on RTM, where the journalist covering a by-election said, "One more mention of the word 'liwat', I'm going to throw up!" Really, I feel the same way! Recession is round the corner, an acid-splasher is on the prowl, trees are disappearing, the electricity meters are being tampered with, someone's daughter or son died mercilessly, graduates that can't string an English sentence together and we are watching out for whose backside, again? Please-lah, enough! We do have better things to worry about! Let's learn from the Myanmarees, let's focus on nation building. It's time to move on. It's time we truly mean what we say when we say we love Malaysia. Malaysia needs us and we are of no use to our beloved country if we are so divided. We are useless Malaysians if we don't learn to be true to what we subscribe by. We say we are Malaysians. We say that though we are different, we celebrate our differences, there's no prejudice. We say we are not inferior to anyone, "Malaysia Boleh". I, honestly think we can, too. I honestly think we can go forward. Let's leave behind cronyism, corruption, stupid politics, instituitions or policies that continue to shackle us and prevent us from being the people we can be. Please, we must take stock of what's good for us and what's bad. Let's weed out the bad, embrace the good. Please, lets' try once more. I really want what's best for Malaysia, don't you? Let's be brave. Let's drop the charade. We do know what's the right thing to do. Why don't we? If there's someone out there whose a liability to this "progress" we seek, please step aside. Do the right thing, call it a day before it's too late. Some of us don't know when it's time to take a bow. We should, otherwise, we'll be forced out! Go when the going is still good. Some of us out there are fighting for the sake of fighting. What are you fighting for? Is your fight still relevant? Must we fight? No one wins in a war. It is stupid to fight! It's peace we seek, why harangue for a fight? Some of us out there are so dishonest. Don't you know there's a God out there? The Cantonese say, "Theen yau gan". How do you expect to get away? Truth always prevails. Don't live in denial. Some of us out there are so ridiculous, still hoping to be affirmed with what they don't deserve. Let me say it loud and clear, "Affirmative action is only for those who need it, irrespective of creed or colour." Hey, my fellow Malaysian, love your neighbour as yourself, don't be an "I-specialist"! Believe me, what goes around comes around. You won't know what hit you, then! Be warned! What is love? Deeds are love, not fine phrases. Faults are thick when love is thin. He that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law. Labour is light when love doth play. Let love be without hypocrisy. Love asks faith and faith asks firmness. Love begets love. Love betters what is best. Love grows with obstacles. Love has no thought of self. Love levels all inequalities. Love rules its kingdom without sword. Do you love Malaysia? Do you? Then, love truly for love will find a way. |
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